UEFA Announces New Human Rights Requirements for 2024

European football's governing body UEFA has outlined specific criteria on human rights risk management for the first time in its requirements for hosting Euro 2024, developed with input from the Sport and Rights Alliance.

In March, UEFA confirmed that either Germany or Turkey will be awarded the rights to host the competition. The two countries must now put together bid dossiers by April 2018 meeting Uefa's criteria, including the new human rights requirements as well as anti-corruption measures.

The Tournament Requirements refer to the key international standards on human rights including the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights, as well as the MSE Platform for Human Rights and its research into remedy mechanisms in particular.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin reflected on the importance that human rights will have moving forward for the organisation and its events:

"The protection of human rights and labour rights is of the utmost importance for UEFA. It was imperative for us to introduce specific articles on the respect and protection of human rights in the bidding requirements for all of our competitions. From now on, bidding nations will have to adhere strictly to these articles in the framework of the organisation of all our tournaments and finals."

Key provisions of the 2024 Tournament Requirements include:

The Bidders have the obligation to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and fundamental freedoms, with a duty to respect human, labour and child rights during the Bidding Procedure and, if appointed, until the end of the dismantling of UEFA EURO 2024.

In order to respect at best human rights, the Bidders should aim at:

• culturally embedding human rights;

• proactively addressing human rights risks;

• engaging with relevant stakeholders and implementing means of reporting and accountability.

Reporting indicators could for instance be:

• Measures to prevent child labour in supply chains involved in UEFA EURO 2024 delivery or to prevent labour rights violations, in particular when building or renovating the Stadiums.

• Evidence of meaningful consultation of stakeholders and vulnerable groups affected by UEFA EURO 2024.

• A complaint mechanism and effective remedies for human rights infringements (including labour standards and corruption due diligence) in direct relation with the organisation of UEFA EURO 2024.

Compliance indicators could be:

• ethic code comprising basic values;

• comprehensive risk assessment with regard to corruption, fraud and any other criminal acts and unethical behaviour;

• compliance management system according to the risk assessment and in line with international standards, including: code of conduct; guidelines on gifts, invitations, conflict of interest; secure reporting system (including mechanism to protect and secure the anonymity of whistleblowers and complainants who do not want to be publicly identified).